A Kent dad determined to quit smoking in January features as part of a campaign intended to inspire England's seven million smokers to follow suit.

Nick Groves, 49, of Paddock Wood, is one of seven lifelong smokers who have pledged to quit in 2018 with the help of Smokefree - the support system for quitting smoking run by the NHS.

All seven smokers are taking part in the mission as part of a supporting film for the advert which will hit TV screens next month.

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The TV advert released by Public Health England shows how poisons from tar in cigarettes enter the bloodstream, spreading around the body within seconds and causing damage to major organs.

Tar's effect on the body is shown to the seven people through a lab demonstration, after which they all commit to quitting as soon as possible.

Kent dad Nick, who lives in Bramley Gardens, explained in the advert how smoking is having a negative effect on his family and how his wife and daughters hate it.

Nick Groves from Paddock Wood features in the advert

He said: "I've been smoking on off since the age of about 15 or 16. I grew up in a house of smokers so didn't know much different.

"I had promised myself that when I reached 40 I would be a non-smoker – now I’m 42 and still smoking, which has to change.

"I'm a family man. I've got a wife and two daughters who absolutely detest me smoking. I want to do it [quit] properly for the sake of my family because it's upsetting them.

"Although my previous attempts have failed, there’s now more support than ever with Smokefree, and so many different options to suit everyone.

"Smokefree has motivated me to finally acknowledge that promise I made myself this new year."

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Research has shown that if you regularly smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day, you are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer compared with a non-smoker.

The poisonous substances smokers inhale

The test results show how their smoking has led to:

Elevated levels of cadmium (a metal used in batteries) - increased risk of damage to kidneys, bones and may lead to lung cancer.

Cancer-causing nitrosamines - potent chemical compounds, many of which are carcinogenic (cancer causing) leading to DNA damage, cell death and associated with cancer of the pancreas, mouth, respiratory and digestive tracts.

Carbon monoxide in their blood - decreases ability of blood to carry oxygen and consequently puts a strain on the heart, increases risk of blood clots and coronary heart disease.

These toxic substances are amongst over 4,000 chemicals released into the body with each cigarette smoked, including more than 70 known cancer-causing compounds.

Elevated levels of these substances were seen in the participants’ blood and can lead to an increased risk of major damage to the body.

Jason Mahoney, Health and Wellbeing lead for Public Health England South East, describes smoking as a "deadly habit".

"Each year it kills 36,532 people in the South East and 64,684 people are admitted to hospital with a smoking related illness - which works out to be more than seven an hour.

"In Kent and Medway, the mortality figures are 7,381 and 1,288 respectively; and the number of people admitted to hospital with smoking-related illnesses are 12,447 and 2,159.

"Our new TV ad shows how every cigarette sends a flood of poisonous chemicals through the bloodstream in seconds.

"We are urging every smoker in the South East to take advantage of the free Smokefree support and quit for good this New Year."

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In the new film that supports the TV advert, Dr Dawn Harper, of Channel 4 TV show Embarassing Bodies, explains the results of the tests to the smokers and how the quality of their blood would start to improve when they quit.

Dr Dawn advises the smokers that there are many ways to quit, including free proven support from NHS Smokefree.

People can choose what works best for them: face-to-face help, stop smoking aids, a quitting app, email, social media, and SMS support. Find out more at www.nhs.uk/smokefree.